As we approach the final round of the 2022 EWS season, the spotlight is firmly focused on the likes of Isabeau Courdurier, Morgane Charre, Jesse Melamed and Richie Rude.. Who will tame the six stunning stages that thread their way down the steep sides of the Pyrenean valley that’s home to Loudenvielle? Can Jesse and Isabeau hold off their rivals or will there be an upset?
At the same time as the drama of the pro race plays out, there are four other contests happening away from the media glare which are just as hotly-contested. The U21 and Master 35+ categories may not command the same coverage but the competition is just as fierce.
In a bid to get to know these riders better we asked the runners and riders in each of the non-pro categories to answer a few questions.
Here’s what we learned about the U21 women:
Sophie Riva
Leading the U21 women is Italy’s Sophie Riva who is 19-years-old and the 2021 U21 champion.
Sophie Riva won two back-to-back US rounds of the EWS in August this year. Pic: Facebook
Do you have sponsors - if so who?
Ancillotti team and its sponsors - mainly Dainese and then other small Italian companies
Do you have another job(s) - full or part-time?
No
How many EWS seasons have you competed in?
Three: 2020, 2021, 2022
How do you feel the 2022 season has gone? What you expected/hoped for or not?
I think it has gone great, I had graduation so a lot of studying during the first part of the season but managed to do quite all the races
Have you raced other disciplines?
XC when I was very little and also DH.
Do you still race other disciplines - which ones?
I race DH
What are your best results to date in any discipline?
U21 women 2021 EWS champion
I was 2nd in elite women at the Italian DH national championship
Sophie Riva was beaten on the final stage at Crans-Montana in the 7th round after leading all day. Pic: Dan Hearn
How many hours do you aim to ride a week?
I ride for eight to 15 hours a week
Do you ride for fun as well as to train?
Yes
Do you just ride or do you cross train?
Gym, pumptrack and a bit of running
What is the best aspect(s) of your riding?
That’s a hard question, I don’t know, I’m too hard on myself. I think techy sections are my strength
Which area(s) would you like to improve?
Jumps for sure
What are your vices?
Sweets
Do you have any children or pets?
I have a cat
Who are your favourite riders - and why?
Myriam Nicole because she’s so fast, clean and strong
Do any other people inspire you - and why?
ALN she seems to be a strong and determined rider and my mum
What are your riding goals?
Be better at jumping and get through things that scare me
Any other life goals?
Get a degree
Emmy Lan
In second place, just 30 points behind Riva, is Team Norco rider Emmy Lan of Canada who won the last round of the EWS at Crans- Montana in Switzerland.
Emmy Lan has won four rounds so far this season Pic: Facebook
This is what the 18-year-old had to say:
Do you have sponsors - if so who?
Norco Bicycles, 7Mesh, Smith, Chromag
Do you have another job(s) - full or part-time?
Yes, I work as a server at a bar and restaurant. I love my job. In the summer I do part time and in winter I do full time.
How many EWS seasons have you competed in?
This is my first EWS season.
How do you feel the 2022 season has gone? What you expected/hoped for or not?
I am super happy with how my season has gone; I didn’t have any expectations for this year. I started this season wanting to get some experience racing and also just travel Europe! I was pretty hyped to see some of my off-season riding paying off and to be up there racing with some fast girls.
Have you raced other disciplines?
I used to race XC, CX and still do some DH.
Do you still race other disciplines - which ones?
I still do some Canadian DH races when I have time and the odd local XC race.
What are your best results to date in any discipline?
1st place in EWS U21 [Emmy has won four races in the 2022 season]
How many hours do you aim to ride a week?
Normally 12-15 hours.
Do you ride for fun as well as to train?
I often just ride for fun! I love doing intervals and doing some skill work but I also just love going out to rip some trails with friends.
Do you just ride or do you cross train?
I spend some time in the gym in the off season, as well as doing other sports like skiing, surfing and running.
Emmy won at Val di Fassa. Pic: Dan Hearn
What is the best aspect(s) of your riding?
Steep, technical trails are my strengths.
Which area(s) would you like to improve?
I’d love to get better at jumping.
What are your vices?
Dark chocolate and instant coffee.
Do you have any children or pets?
No
Who are your favourite riders - and why?
ALN – she’s an insane rider and really awesome person. Lucy Vaneestern – she’s rad
What are your riding goals?
I would like to race and podium in the Elite Category EWS. Continue to travel the world racing my bike.
Coach younger girls.
Any other life goals?
Go to University and balance racing and school. Ride a motorcycle around Europe.
Lily Boucher
Eighteen-year-old Lily Boucher from Canada is currently sitting in fourth place behind Chile’s Paz Gallo Fuentes.
Do you have sponsors - if so who? Forbidden Bikes and Corsa Cycles.
Lily finished third at Val di Fassa with Emmy Lan on the top step and Sophie Riva second. She singles out ALN as her favourite rider Pic: Dan Hearn
Do you have another job(s) - full or part-time?
This past year I finished highschool and worked in a coffee shop part time.
How many EWS seasons have you competed in?
I have competed in 5 EWS’s.
How do you feel the 2022 season has gone? What you expected/hoped for or not?
I’m so stoked on the season! Definitely has been a learning curve being my first full season of enduro, but everyone is so welcoming and I’m having so much fun. Stoked to be able to ride my bike in all these places and have met lots of new people. Overall very happy :)
Have you raced other disciplines?
I come from a DH background, and have also done some freeride.
Do you still race other disciplines - which ones?
I did one downhill race this season, and a local XC race as well.
What are your best results to date in any discipline?
I think 2nd place is my best result at any race enduro or DH.
How many hours do you aim to ride a week?
Depends on the week, but an average training week is 10 to 15-ish hrs on the bike.
Do you ride for fun as well as to train?
Definitely! I love riding my bike and am lucky enough to have such good trails where I live, so it’s hard not to have fun.
Do you just ride or do you cross train?
I go to the gym, and skate ski in the winter to keep the endurance up. I also like to climb, ski and skate sometimes.
Lily is keen to get more comfortable riding at speed Pic: Hannah Photo
What is the best aspect(s) of your riding?
I think keeping it fun and not putting too much pressure on myself while racing.
Which area(s) would you like to improve?
I’d like to work on going faster in higher-speed flow sections, and feel more comfortable at higher speeds.
What are your vices?
I eat a lot of cookies. Everyday.
Do you have any children or pets?
I have a dog.
Who are your favourite riders - and why?
ALN is definitely one of my favourite riders and someone I look up to. Her passion for racing, and her riding is so sick but also she is such a rad a human. She is always super encouraging and willing to share her knowledge with the young ones.
Any other people inspire you - and why?
My mom definitely inspires me. She has always been so supportive of whatever I do and shreds on a bike. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who can balance so many things at once, working full time, school, dealing with me and still making time to ride. I definitely would not have these opportunities without her.
What are your riding goals?
I would love to keep loving my bike no matter what, I never want it to feel like something I have to do. So whatever keeps it fun, I’m currently loving racing EWS and would like to continue to improve my speed on all types of trails. I think it would also be very cool to go on a big bike packing trip.
Any other life goals?
I'd love to be an elementary school teacher one day, and definitely want to do some schooling in art and environmental studies. I also want to hike in Nepal and do some more travelling outside of biking.
Lauren Bingham
The USA’s Lauren Bingham (19) is currently sitting in fifth place.
Lauren at EWS Northstar in 2019. Sheworks as a bank teller when she’s not racing and has twice been the USA’a U18 national champion in enduro
Do you have sponsors - if so who?
I race for the Cannondale Farm team. It includes obviously Cannondale, as well as Fox, Shimano, Giro, Koo, Wilderness Trail Bikes, and Thule.
Do you have another job(s) - full or part-time?
I am a bank teller.
How many EWS seasons have you competed in?
This would be my second, as I raced Northstar and Trophy of Nations in 2019.
How do you feel the 2022 season has gone?
The 2022 season has been incredible for me. With the chance to race 3 EWS rounds back to back in North America I felt that I really got in a good groove. Since it had been a few years since I was last able to race EWS I really didn’t know what to expect so I’m stoked it turned out this way! Even though I was hoping for maybe one placing to be above third, I’m honoured just to be in the mix with these quick women.
Have you raced other disciplines?
I have tried pretty much everything. I started racing cross country and cyclocross at 6-years-old and raced that primarily until I was about 13. My older brother got more into downhill and I decided to give it a go. I raced dual slalom, downhill, and XC for a few years until I was old enough to race enduro and since then I have loved Enduro as it was my favourite aspect of each.
Do you still race other disciplines - which ones?
I still love to do some local downhill and cyclocross races.
Lauren, who third at Burke, says that she’s lucky to have lots of great people to ride with in Utah where she lives
What are your best results to date in any discipline?
2x National Champion Enduro U18, 3rd in Northstar, Whistler, Burke, and Sugarloaf EWS, and 2nd in Trophy of Nations.
How many hours do you aim to ride a week?
With work it’s hard to get in a lot of long days on the bike so I’d say 11-12 is pretty average.
Do you ride for fun as well as to train?
While racing is a huge part of why I love riding bikes, I enjoy going out to ride with a group of friends or go do some crazy adventure rides. I am fortunate enough in Utah that there are tons of amazing people here that love to ride.
Do you just ride or do you cross train?
I have been running almost as long as I’ve been riding and I still love to do it as a change every once in a while. This past year or so I have gotten into some heavier weight lifting and that’;s my favourite thing to do in the off season these days.
What is the best aspect(s) of your riding?
I would say pedally terrain and generally more backcountry-style stages. As well as drier riding like Northstar, coming from Utah that’s generally what I feel most comfortable on.
Which area(s) would you like to improve?
Jumps. I have always had a huge mental block when it comes to hitting gaps and drops. I also had to completely relearn how to ride in the wet this past month in Whistler, Maine, and Vermont.
What are your vices?
Pretty much anything that is chocolate or has chocolate in it.
Do you have any children or pets?
I have a dog named Finley, that I hope one day will listen enough to take riding.
Who are your favourite riders - and why?
My first would be my brother. I grew up always following him around and trying to copy all his moves. I’ve always looked up to him as a person and as a rider. From then on it’s hard to list just a few: the pro women here in the US are insanely quick and have always been willing to help and all of my past and current teammates.
Any other people inspire you - and why?
My best friend Sydney is such a huge inspiration to me, we started at 6 racing cross country together and went our separate ways as far as sports go. She races skiing now and is the most devoted and motivated person I’ve ever met. Her drive will always be something I aspire to. She is also the most supportive person of my career and always knows what to say, good news or bad.
What are your riding goals?
To do a full EWS season would be the dream for me. I’ve always had some pretty big aspirations since I first started racing, and I would really love to make a top 10 in pro for a race as well.
Any other life goals?
Still figuring out other life things these days, but I would like to go back to school some day and potentially go into sports psychology or something else working with athletes.
